Puella Magi Madoka Magica
- Network: New Video
- Genre: Kids' Animation
Common Sense Media says
Outstanding anime is more violent than you'd expect.
- Network: New Video
- Genre: Kids' Animation
What parents need to know
Positive role models
Violence
Sex
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Puella Magi Madoka Magica appears to be a cute animated show for little girls (similar to Sailor Moon), but it's full of dark moments and imagery that is more suited for teens and adults. Witch characters are very creepy, and there's lots of violence between girls and witches and sometimes between girls themselves, including beating, stabbing, and decapitation. Expect a bit of language, including "crap" and "s--t." There is a bit of adult drinking and some girls in short skirts.
User reviews
Parents say
Kids say
What's the story?
Fourteen-year-old Madoka Kaname (voiced by Christine Marie Cabanos) is approached by a strange creature called Kyubey. He tells her that if she makes a contract with him, he will grant her a wish and give her magical powers. But in exchange for her powers, she must fight monsters known as Witches. As Madoka struggles to decide what to wish for, she discovers that the life of a Magical Girl is a tragic one, full of suffering and despair. Is anything she could wish for worth sacrificing her life?
Is it any good?
QUALITY
PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA is a truly special anime, in part because it defies genre. It takes a common idea for girls' anime -- giving teenage girls magical powers to save the world -- but gives it a darker twist. The result is a story more intent on making its audience think than simply providing entertainment.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica's animation style is full of fluid motion and attention to detail that makes it a uniquely pleasurable experience to watch. Every one of the main characters is well developed and its hard not to get attached to them as the story progresses. The plot is full of twists and turns that will keep viewers guessing and the overall messages -- including the idea that a normal life might be preferable to a supernatural one -- are powerful.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about the tone of the series. How do the creators establish a mood or tone for the series? What would make it a different kind of series? How would you change the series, if you could?
Talk about how the violence is presented. Does it improve the story? How would the story be different if it was less violent?
Talk about symbols in the series. Who do the witches represent? Are there other symbols you recognize?
TV details
| Cast: | Christine Marie Cabanos, Cristina Vee, Sarah Williams |
| Network: | New Video |
| Genre: | Kids' Animation |
| Topics: | Magic and fantasy, Fairy tales |
| TV rating: | NR |
| Available on: | Streaming |
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QUALITY
Magical Girl ver. of Watchmen, with Magical Heroine ver. of Optimus Prime
If you like Magical Girl, especially the Magical Heroine ones, that would be the classical story. However If you still under 13, you have to watch it later.
Puella Magi's storytelling would like Watchmen: dark, cruel social problem background, with the humanity struggles (including the faith, in Kyoko's Christian case)... But less bloody violance and sexual stuff, and same with the ending of Faust, good ending with hope. It is let more teenager can reach the story, and rethink themselves.
Kaname Madoka, from shy to brave changing, having strong power with kindness heart, and her legacy life, is it a tribute to Optimus Prime? Maybe.
What other families should know
Great role models
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QUALITY
Deconstruction of a classic anime genre
First off, I am surprised to see this on here haha!
As a huge anime fan, I have sifted through many a harem show of a show that promises to be such a great, new thing, and seen many disappointments. I have to say that Madoka Magica is not one of them :)
It is an extraordinary magical girl show, that fools you into thinking that it will be like all the rest, then hits you hard with what it really is! This is NOT for anyone under 13, as Studio SHAFT (The creators) have a very stylistic way of animating things (some scenes can be creepy to younger kids, especially the labyrinths) and they are not afraid to let characters die terrible deaths. I have heard that there is some language in the dub, but there is none in the sub. This show has positive messages, especially about standing up for yourself and protecting the ones you love. I thoroughly recommend this to any anime fan!!!!
What other families should know
Great role models
Too much violence
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QUALITY
Puella Magi Madoka Magica!
Puella Magi Madoka Magica was the diamond in the rough for me when it came to anime. There are so many anime out there with great potential, yet it never seems to build itself up to what it could be. Puella Magi Madoka Magica is NOT this and was a breath of fresh air.
The story follows Madoka Kaname, a naive and sweet girl who leads a seemingly normal life with a few close friends and a loving family. This all changes when she crosses paths with Kyubey, an extraterrestrial being that offers to grant her one wish in return for her service as a Puella Magi. While the show seems very innocent when you begin watching it, there is more than what meets the eye as it takes a sharp, dark turn several episodes in to the anime.
However, the anime itself is thought provoking and makes for an excellent discussion topic as there is so much to think about and draw meanings from. The positive messages are strong with this anime, and the character's personalities are true to life and human.
-Concerns-
This anime tends to be violent in certain scenes (examples of this include a pity-kill that is silhouetted, two decapitations that are silhouetted/ off screen, and several deaths. There is not much blood or gore (only a few cuts and scrapes here or there, nothing that would be sickening to watch.)
Language is not particularly strong (I watch the subtitled version) with just a few curse words dropped here and there, but there is one scene in the anime that drops a few insults towards females (However, the behavior of the people doing the insulting is looked down upon by a lead character, who is quick to correct their behavior.) (For those who have seen this anime already and are questioning what I mean by this, it is the train scene with Sayaka.)
Alcohol is scene very briefly in the anime, but the characters that consume the alcohol are adults and are not portrayed as drunks.
I really can't say bad things about this anime as it is just simply wonderful. This is one series that cannot be passed up; it's just that good!
What other families should know
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
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